Peeping Tom

noun

-ˈtäm 

: a pruriently prying person : voyeur

Peeping Tomism

-ˈtä-ˌmi-zəm 

noun

Examples of Peeping Tom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Think Hitchcock’s Rear Window, Polanski’s The Tenant, Haneke’s Caché, Coppola’s The Conversation and Powell’s Peeping Tom for starters, or at the more delectably lurid end of the spectrum, De Palma’s Body Double and Dressed to Kill. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026

Arrest in Peeping Tom investigation Andrade Robinson, 55, was taken into custody after he was found in the Rogers Forge area in the early morning hours of May 8, police said. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 13 May 2026

With its sadistic violence, taboo sexuality, and grim depiction of postwar London, Peeping Tom was a flop that essentially ended the illustrious career of director Michael Powell, falling into obscurity until Martin Scorsese rescued it and rehabilitated its reputation with a 1979 rerelease. —Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025

Oakley was charged with 11 counts of Peeping Tom with photograph/electronic equipment, according to police. —Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Peeping Tom, legendary citizen of Coventry who watched Lady Godiva riding naked

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Peeping Tom

• diatom
• intercom
• aplomb
• balaam
• begam
• cocom
• embalm
• islam
• pogrom
• salaam
• sitcom
• balm

Kids Definition

peeping Tom

noun

peep·​ing Tom

ˌpē-piŋ-ˈtäm

: a person who spies into the windows of private dwellings

Word Origin

According to an ancient English legend, the lord of the town of Coventry had burdened the citizens with heavy taxes. His wife, Lady Godiva, was constantly urging the lord to lower the taxes. Finally he promised to do away with the taxes, but only if Lady Godiva would ride naked on a horse through the town. Wanting to help the townspeople, Godiva agreed and made the ride, covered only by her very long hair. For their part, the people decided to stay in their homes and not look at her nakedness. However, a tailor named Tom could not resist the temptation to peep at her. For this, it is said, he was struck blind. He is remembered as "Peeping Tom," and his name is used for a person who sneakily peeps at the private activities of others.